# Why Bonn and London are pivotal moments for a people‑centered energy transition *Published:* 2026-06-04 *Author:* Angela Churie Kallhauge International climate diplomacy continues next week in Bonn, Germany, where negotiators and advocates will set the stage for the United Nations’ climate conference COP31 later this year in Antalya, Türkiye. London Climate Action Week – taking place later in June – will then gather the largest mobilization of UK and EU-based companies, finance institutions, and civil society groups focused on climate action. These climate meetings arrive at a moment of profound complexity in our world: Conflict in the Persian Gulf is fueling rising energy prices and cost‑of‑living pressures on our households; fertilizer shortages are straining food security; and communities everywhere are bracing for an intense wildfire season and flooding due to one of the most intense El Niño seasons. Responding to these pressures, countries and companies are forced to make challenging economic and energy decisions in real time. But it is precisely in moments like this where windows of opportunity open to make clean energy and resilient development the easy choice for countries seeking energy security and economic prosperity. Transforming these fierce headwinds into momentum requires collaboration and whole-of-society-engagement to unlock and mobilize around emerging opportunities; climate diplomacy that delivers clarity and direction toward real-economy solutions; inclusive processes to drive finance for climate action; and putting people at the heart of climate solutions. **An *all-hands* approach to seize opportunity in times of crisis** Energy security remains top of mind for governments worldwide. The challenge now is to implement solutions that meet people’s immediate needs—energy affordability, reliability and access—while maintaining momentum toward deep cuts in climate pollution and building resilience that reduces our climate risk. The recent dialogues on transitioning away from fossil fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia underscored both the risk of backtracking toward fossil‑based systems and the enormous opportunity that clean energy offers. > We won’t achieve a just energy transition by choosing between security and sustainability; we need actions that deliver both. And in times of crisis, we need to work together to find rare opportunities. Right now, the world is reeling from a shortage of oil and gas supply. Meanwhile, enough natural gas to power Japan, South Korea and Australia for a year is being wasted through leaks and flaring at oil and gas infrastructure around the world, and instead leaked into the atmosphere as climate pollution. We can turn this wasted energy into energy that powers people’s lives—and avoids near-term climate harm—by tightening the screws and batting down the hatches, equipment maintenance and worker training. We can eliminate 70% of fossil-fuel methane emissions with affordable fixes and technologies that we have today. And that’s not only an energy security win today, but a leg up toward enabling a more orderly and equitable longer-term energy transition. The world’s energy crisis is an opportunity to catalyze energy security and climate solutions—but it requires all hands on deck to seize the opportunity, and spaces like the Bonn climate meetings and LCAW provide the convening power required for enhanced progress and action. **Pulling the economic levers to make the climate choice the easy choice** London Climate Action Week will spark a gathering of stakeholders and leaders from the United Kingdom and across the European Union, including many from the private sector and finance who can play a major role in shaping the standards, financial tools and partnerships that enable climate action with lasting impact. This crowd gives us an opportunity to focus on one central question: *How can we mobilize the money to drive a global climate transition?* EDF will engage across sectors to help unlock the real‑economy pathways needed to: - **Deliver deep decarbonization**, including credible net‑zero standards that give companies clarity and accountability - **Mobilize finance and insurance** as essential enablers of the energy transition - **Translate global climate goals into investable opportunities** that can scale quickly and equitably **Putting people at the center of solution design and implementation** I’m a firm believer that a climate solution that only works for our atmosphere and fails to work for people is no solution at all. Conversely, solutions that center peoples’ experiences and livelihoods at the heart of their design are the ones most likely to succeed and deliver benefits for the long haul. Climate diplomacy and climate solutions must be grounded in and informed by the lived realities of households, farmers, workers and communities. You can’t protect trees without the leadership of the community living near forest. We need to work directly with farmers to grow and produce food that feeds the world with less pollution. In the same way, we cannot transform our energy systems without the involvement of those directly involved in producing and using the energy. This is how a climate solution can be truly sustainable: by putting people first. In this moment of geopolitical tension and economic crisis, that principle is more important to our work than ever. **Looking Ahead** As the world moves from Bonn to Antalya, the stakes could not be higher. The decisions that countries and companies make in the midst of this moment of conflict and upheaval will shape not only the trajectory of global climate action but also the economic and energy security landscape for decades to come. EDF will continue working with partners across governments, business and civil society to ensure that climate solutions are practical, investable and centered on people’s wellbeing. The path forward demands cooperation, creativity and courage—and we promise to bring all three to Bonn, London, and beyond.